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“Ehe Siri.”

“Como?”

I don’t know how to use this dead guy’s phone, but I’m hoping he has an international calling plan, and that it’s not just some bullshit phone. Wait. The guy who didn’t hit me must have been Italian. But how did he lose his phone? My power kick must have done it. I don’t have time for that logic right now. I tap the steering wheel ready to come out of my skin at a light.

I slam it into park and scramble back for the phone, finding it under a seat in a pool of the hitter’s blood. I put it in the center console. The screen is cracked, and I can only kind of see a map. Fortunately, it’s dark now because I’m covered in an idiot’s blood and half my face looks like it went a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson. Unfortunately, it’s dark and I don’t know where the fuck I am.

“Ehi Siri, puoi chiamare…” Oh god. I don’t know any numbers. Sal doesn’t have one because we’d always change phones. And Brick and Becca. I don’t have the burner numbers. Shit.

Siri claps back, that little bitch. “Chi vuoi chiamare?” Who do you want to call? I know. Hold on.

I take the left turn and yell. “I don’t know, Siri. Can you call Tina Gelbert?”

“Hmm. Non è tra i tuoi contatti.”

“I know it’s not in his contacts you cheeky little robot!”

And then she starts babbling so much Italian, like she’s a nonna mad at me for mouthing off. I keep on the windy road I’m on. There’s a town up ahead, and I hope to God this one is almost to the fucking ocean.

Siri starts spouting off again, showing off her Italian. “Girare a sinistra in Via Fuorimura 150 m Svoltare a destra in Viale Enrico Caruso. Parti di questa strada potrebbero essere chiuse in determinati orari o giorni 200 m Svoltare a sinistra in Via Luigi de Maio 200 m Proseguire dritto su Via S. Francesco 210 m Proseguire su Via Vittorio Veneto 55 m.”

I can’t keep up with all of that. I have her repeat and focus on the first two directions. Left on Fuoimura and right on Enrico Caruso. And I don’t want to think about what I think I heard. That part of this road might be closed at different times of the day. What the fuck?

Numbers. Numbers. I know the café number, but it’s closed, sold and empty. I think. I only know five numbers by heart. I recite Italian numbers, uno, due, tres…

“Ehe Siri, um. Chiamata! Chiamata Stati Uniti zero uno sette zero sette nove tre tre…”

I grip the wheel and peel my sticky shoe off the gas to transfer it to the brake as I coast down a steep and twisty hill. What the fuck is it with this country? I grew up around roads like this, so I’m not scared to drive them, but it’s every road in this freaking countryside.

My head buzzes, and my heart leaps at the sound of the phone ringing.

“Gelbert Family Winery, Patsy speaking.”

“PATSY!” I don’t know her, and I sound like a crazy person.

“Yes, ma’am.”

In a rush, I list everyone. “Can I speak to Tina, David, Natalie? Jana? Any Gelbert will do?”

“I’m sorry. They’re not here, but Mr. Gelbert is.”

Great, my cranky ass uncle is the one I get. My heart is thrumming as my pulse kicks up. I breathe as Siri chimes in with my next direction. The next turn might be to Sorrento, or it might be taking me to Portugal. Who can really tell?

“Can I speak to him, please? It’s dire.”

“Who may say is---”

“POPPY! Tell him it’s his niece. And hurry.” I turn again, and I’m praying this dumps me out at the ocean. I have to get to my husband, sister-in-law, my cousin, and Brick. I have to save them.

“Poppy?” His voice is gruff and familiar. Tears flick in the back of my eyes as a warmth I didn’t expect and really don’t have time to unpack envelopes me.

My voice breaks, “Uncle Artie. Tell me everyone is safe.”

He clears his throat. “As far as we know, but I haven’t heard today’s report.” What the hell does that mean?

“And no one weird is around? Boomer’s with you.”

“Yes, the large man who bosses us around is here. We’re all under lockdown, but I assume you know that. Missy…” I exhale. Enzo isn’t in Sonoma. Which I knew but didn’t really know know until now. Fucking Mark was too busy to be bothered with us, so I’m hoping Brick is the one who updated Boomer.